A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 06:41 PM

I don't know who this Alan Day person is (OK, I vaguely know, he's one of these peculiar diatonic persons), but I'm pretty damn sure he hasn't a clue who I am.
Nor does he bother to read a word of what I say.
Of course, he doesn't have to. Nobody does.
Though if you don't, you relinquish totally the right to stick totally off-beam assumptions into my mouth.
Did you read what I was saying about ?The Now Show earlier?
No. thought not.

Go away (far away) and listen to Claude-Michel Schönberg who screwed up Victor Hugo's text, (or even L Bart or A L Webber if you really, really want). I don't care, nor do I want to hear about it.
My musical tastes and experiences are wide but I don't talk about early baroque or various aspects of techno here.
This Ms Boyce (Boyle? whatever) person might be good at what she does if you like that sort of thing. Doubtless there is some appropriate scribbling board somewhere else to say so.

I posted in reply to someone who said they had crossposted that I too was cross when I posted.
No idea where that's gone.
I'm actually just bored at all this shit about a reality TV show that hasn't the vaguest relevance to what we're supposed to be here for.

Someone says they can't find much of my work online. No, of course you wouldn't. It was mostly done with real hot metal on paper, Remember that?

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Alan Day
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 06:36 PM

It's a lovely name Alice.
I just wonder what the reaction would have been if she had sung ,or does sing a Folk Song. My suspicion would be that the same complaints would come from the same directions. I look forward to the next time she sings,I hope at some point Susan sings "Cry me a River" to bring her singing up to date.Good luck to her and I do hope she can cope with this surge of interest.
Al

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 06:33 PM

I don't know who this Alan Day person is (OK, I vaguely know, he's one of these peculiar diatonic persons), but I'm pretty damn sure he hasn't a clue who I am.
Nor does he bother to read a word of what I say online.
Of course, he doesn't have to. Nobody does.
Though if you don't, you relinquish totally the right to stick totally off-beam assumptions into my mouth.
Did he read what I was saying about ?The Now Show earlier?
No. thought not.
Go away (far away) and listen to Claude-Michel Schönberg or even L Bart & A L Webber if you really, really want. I don't care, nor do I want to hear about it.

My musical tastes and experiences are wide but I don't talk about early baroque or various aspects of techno here.
This Ms Boyce (Boyle? whatever) person might be good at what she does if you like that sort of thing. Doubtless there is some appropriate scribbling board somewhere else to say so.

I posted in reply to someone who said they had crossposted to say that I too was cross when I posted.
No idea where that's gone.
I'm actually just bored and can't be arsed to be cross at all this shit about a reality TV show that hasn't the vaguest relevance to what we're supposed to be here for.

Someone says they can't find much of my work online. No, of course you wouldn't. It was mostly done with real hot metal on paper, Remember that? I suppose the Colindale cuttings library would be the place to start.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Jeri
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 06:27 PM

I don't really think we need trolls or troll groupies in this thread, eh?

Alice, somebody in another thread referred to you as 'Alice in Momtana'--funny typo, considering it was in reference to a lullaby.

I'm not 100% sure this is correct: I heard a fleeting ad for Larry King Live tonight, and I believe Ms Boyle is supposed to be on it.

I don't really believe the show was 'staged', so to speak. I think the people filming it were pretty sure what was going to happen and knew to get shots of the audience before and during, and I believe they edited it to emphasize those reactions. Now, ask me if I care. I love seeing the closed minded, smug snobs get their comeuppance. I've managed to do things like that on a very minuscule scale, and it feels damned good.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Alice
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 06:07 PM

By the way, Alice is my real name, and if you google my name, it is the first page that comes up. www.aliceflynn.com

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Alice
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 06:03 PM

unfortunately, the Courier misspelled "Osprey", but what the heck about spelling today.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Alice
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 05:56 PM

Meanwhile.... back on the topic....

Susan Boyle's home town paper, the West Lothian Courier, reported this:


"Susan said this week that she had always dreamed of becoming a professional singer and had enrolled on a drama course in Edinburgh several years ago.

But her ambition was cut short after the death of her dad Patrick when she had to stay at home and look after her mum Bridget, who sadly died two years ago.

But regulars at Blackburn pub the Ospray told the Courier that Susan had always been destined for great things.

Owner Tony Moran (pictured) said: "Everybody knows Susan and knows she has always enjoyed singing."

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 05:55 PM

Google me, Dick, and you'll find out, if you're astute enough. Google Diane Easby and you'll get nothing but Mudcat or Froots etc.

Oh, and it's McDonald not mcdonald.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: The Sandman
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 05:50 PM

who is anyone one here?
we are all people who are entitled to an opinion,who is Terry mcdonald,who is CaptainBirdseye,who is Alice,who is Carol C.
It does not matter.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 05:49 PM

Don't sigh Diane. I thought that, as someone who claims to be a writer, you would have more respect the English language instead of resorting to net-speak.

Oh, and by the way, you took Ron Olesko to task for misspelling your name and yet you have twice referred to the subject of this thread as Ms Boyce.

DC

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 05:47 PM

My musical tastes and experiences are wide but I don't talk about early baroque or various aspects of techno here.
This Ms Boyce person might be good at what she does if you like that sort of thing. Doubtless there is some appropriate scribbling board somewhere else to say so.


Ms. Easby. Her name is BOYLE, not Boyce. So much for the importance of spelling a name correctly, eh? As long as YOURS is right, that's what is important.

Pay attention to THIS please:

You are a wet blanket here. A rotten potato. A fart in church. Bird poop on the windshield. WE DON'T GIVE A RAT'S ASS ABOUT YOUR "SUPERIOR" MUSICAL SENSIBILITIES. You would be surprised at what the rest of us can come up with, in musical intellect, but you don't want to know. You've made a judgement, based upon, apparently, three bars of something you dismissed from the telly, and now you're busy bemoaning the deterioration of Mudcat.

Get a life. Get a personality. Get an enema. Get lost.

Sincerely,

SRS

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 05:44 PM

Just who is Diane Easby?

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 05:38 PM

Yeah. I was quite cross when I posted too.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: CarolC
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 05:36 PM

Crossposted.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: CarolC
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 05:36 PM

From what I can tell from having just Googled it, MOR appears to be an abbreviation for "middle of the road"...

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=mor+music&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 05:35 PM

Sigh.

If you stand in the Middle Of The Road you might hear it. Then you'll be thankful when the juggernaut runs you over.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 05:31 PM

I am on this site to discuss folk music,not classical music,not mor music.

I'll ask again, what is "mor music"?

DC

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 05:30 PM

I don't know who this Alan Day person is (OK, I vaguely know, he's one of these peculiar diatonic persons), but I'm pretty damn sure he hasn't a clue who I am.
Nor does he bother to read a word of what I say.
Of course, he doesn't have to. Nobody does.
Though if you don't, you relinquish totally the right to stick totally off-beam assumptions into my mouth.
Did you read what I was saying about ?The Now Show earlier?
No. thought not.
Go away (far away) and listen to Claude-Michel Schönberg or even A L Webber if you really, really want. I don't care, nor do I want to hear about it.
My musical tastes and experiences are wide but I don't talk about early baroque or various aspects of techno here.
This Ms Boyce person might be good at what she does if you like that sort of thing. Doubtless there is some appropriate scribbling board somewhere else to say so.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: The Sandman
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 05:25 PM

I am on this site to discuss folk music,not classical music,not mor music.
however I wish Susan Boyle well,even if it is not my kind of music,it is good to see someone get reward for their voice/singing, regardless of image.
the problem with the the music industry today[and that includes folk music] is that it is about hype and promotion,it has become too much like the pop world.
Susan Boyle is someone who has proved that good singing,is more important than image.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Alan Day
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 05:06 PM

I am on this site to discuss music.
All music, not little sections of it.
By the reaction of the majority you like me enjoyed Susan's performance
the fact that it came from a stage show and is not Folk ,it does not matter at all. It is what I like about Folkies they enjoy or can appreciate all types of music. Sadly however a few have got to spoil a good discussion.Thank goodness they are in the minority
Al

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 04:48 PM

I've watched a couple more of the interviews, including one that brought in Paul Potts, and it sounds like some of the news folks themselves are making and effort to contribute to her comfort level by letting Potts speak to her as one who was there not to long ago himself. Take the baby steps, enjoy the competition, use the nervousness to propel herself forward, and keep up the good work.

SRS

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 04:42 PM

"Why do they do it, and more importantly, why does anybody imagine it has the slightest relevance to what is supposed to be of importance to contributors here? "

I agree with you, this should be in the catagory of BS for a forum like this.

Regardless of Diane's reluctance to look beyond anthing but the focus of this forum (yet felt compelled to put her 2 cents in), the STORY has relevance to those of us who judge too harshly without gathering facts. It is a lesson.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 04:36 PM

They are Getting ahead of themselves...I hope she keeps the original with maybe a few tiny changes. The ones they show make her look unreal.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 04:28 PM

You know, music for some people, is strangely, about anger and bitterness.

For Susan Boyle, it is about nothing but Joy.

Joy in performing it. Joy in letting others share it with her. Joy in just being who she is.

She's endured the bullies, and forgiven them too. She has a sweet, kind and gentle nature and I'm sure that in a life that so many would choose to deride and ridicule, she has never stopped shining her light over people.

The lady is an absolute Beam of Sparkles and I had tears in my eyes when I listened to her sing.

I don't give a flying duck what anyone else thinks of her music, or of Susan herself, because for me, she is Absolute Magic!

Let those who choose to use their words to abuse and belittle do just that, I'm away to watch and listen to Susan again, to smile, and to feel joyful that her wonderful voice will now be heard by millions, and that her life has changed beyond her wildest dreams.

Somehow, I think she and Pebbles will continue to live their happy life, interspersed with moments of incredible excitement for her, and huge appreciation from all her new admirers around the world.

She could have chosen a life filled with bitter words and bitter views of others, having such an overlooked talent, instead, to use a phrase of Patch Adams, Susan Boyle chose to become 'An Instrument of Joy'

I wish her all the happiness in the world.

Lizzie :0)

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 04:23 PM

Watch the video

No. Why the hell should I? The three bars or so I did see differed in no way from any other performance of this sort of tedious, over-melodramatic shit from the commercial musical theatre. However "good" the voice.

Why do they do it, and more importantly, why does anybody imagine it has the slightest relevance to what is supposed to be of importance to contributors here?

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Alice
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 04:22 PM

I quoted wikipedia as the source in my previous post. From internet movie database, bio of the composer of Cry Me A River, agrees with wikipedia that it is Arthur Hamilton, composed for the movie and then pulled because they didn't think Ella Fitzgerald, a black woman, would sing the word "plebian". There's a thread topic all in itself!

The Julie London hit came later.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Alice
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 04:09 PM

The quote of the Sawyer interview was in the article on The Daily Record, which broke the "Cry Me A River" recording.
I could only get the link to go to their main page, where you have to then click on another link to the article.

Thanks for the abcnews link, SRS.

Now that the discussion has moved farther from the original you tube link, here is the "Cry Me A River" link again that we have been discussing, for those who may have missed where it is buried in this thread.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jI2DxkrgpgQ

The link to The Daily Record article is direct from the right side of the you tube page on this video of CMAR.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: NormanD
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 04:07 PM

I thought that Bobby Troup wrote CMAR for his wife, Julie London, who sang it, in an eery and sexy way, in the greatest ever rock 'n' film, "The Girl Can't Help It" in 1956.

I really can't say - nor have I any right to even ponder - what moves people to tears. We all have different triggers. But maybe the sight of someone appearing to overcome the odds and sticking up two fingers (one finger, Trans-Atlantically) to the sneerers and critics is the stuff of dreams, something that maybe people want to see more of - especially in these uncertain and straitened times.

As I said above, good luck to the woman. She may well be far stronger than we ever will know or realise, and being casually patronised may be like water off a duck's back to her. I hope she gets what she wants. But I refuse to see this show as anything other than manufactured, complete with emotional triggers that draw us all in. Look at how we're all discussing it, and starting at each other's throats into the bargain. But get a grip, everybody! It's showbiz, entertainment, bread & circuses, nothing is left to chance....

And I welcome Diane Westby's sharp comments, waspish they may be, but ever welcome to read.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 04:03 PM

Oh pooh Diane! Nice attempt at a comeback.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 04:02 PM

Diane,

What does MOR mean, as in "MOR mush"; "MOR schlock"; & "MOR, wishy-washy, OTT trash from musicals" ?

DC

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 04:01 PM

The link above to the Diane Sawyer interview didn't work. Try this one instead.

Since my last post I find it interesting to learn that Diane Easby is so critical about something now she says she hasn't even seen. Just judged and found wanting. That kind of attitude is just plain stupid. Watch the video, then come back and argue it's merits - or not. Or don't come back. Since no one here wants to force you to do something you don't want to do, then save us the bother and please don't come back to this thread.

SRS

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Alice
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 03:50 PM

Like I said...
Blues, singing, people sharing their amateur music talents. Gosh, seems like those topics are what I've experienced on Mudcat since at least 1998.

Alice

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Don Firth
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 03:49 PM

Oh, dear! I come back after a good night's sleep and a nice breakfast and find that the hyenas are out. And The Gorgon's at the door!

Andy, Andy, Andy. . . .

"Unknown" Paul Potts was indeed unknown beyond his own community until he appeared on the talent show. And he did not sing in "semi-professional" productions, they were amateur productions. And as to his attending workshops with Luciano Pavarotti, I've attended classic guitar workshops with Pepe Romero. I learned a lot, but that, ipso facto, didn't make me any more "famous" than I already was.

By the way, Andy, how many people do you know who have made records, but who still languish in obscurity? I know a couple dozen, including a young woman who lives in an apartment upstairs. Ye gods, these days, anyone can crank out a CD. I wonder how many hundreds of thousands of CDs are residing in boxes under beds and in closets that nobody bought and that wind up getting inflicted on friends and relatives as gifts, 'cause that's the only way to get rid of the bloody things!

Hell, man, I've sung professionally (which is to say, people have paid to hear me sing) for most of my life, but that hardly makes me rich and famous. And there are vast armies of people out there who have done likewise who also are neither rich nor famous.

And none of this petty carping alters the fact that, well-known or obscure, both Paul Potts and Susan Boyle have extraordinarily fine singing voices, and were it not for the talent show, and Mudcatters feeling impelled to let others here know of extraordinary happenings, the vast majority of us would never hear of their existence. It would appear that there are some sorry souls who seem to thing that's a good thing. I, personally, am glad to hear about talented but otherwise obscure people being recognized at last.

Andy, m'lad, you might seriously consider the possibilities of getting a life. You too, Diane.

####

Re: Ethel Merman. Firth ducks and runs!

I believe I picked on Ethel Merman because Classic Arts Showcase keeps running a video of her when she was a guest on someone's television program late in her career (late 1970s or early 1980s) on which she did what might be considered her signature song, "There's No Business Like Show Business." She was belting as usual, and she was downright shrill, with a fierce vibrato. Why CAS has to keep running that video of her, I don't know, because it's hardly representative of her earlier work.

Anyway, my apologies to Ethel Merman and her fans. . . .

####

"Cry Me a River." Incredible!!

Listening to Susan Boyle sing "Cry Me a River," with that kind of feeling an intensity, I find the idea that, as she said, she lives alone with her cat, has never been married, and has never been kissed, a bit mind-boggling. She sounds like she really knows what she's singing about.

I saw the tenth anniversary concert version of "Les Miserable" televised some time back, and when I listen to Susan Boyle sing "I Dreamed a Dream," what her voice conjures up in my mind's eye is Fantine, the young woman who sings the song; a young woman who has led an absolutely miserable life and who continues to live in a world of hurt, but who, nevertheless, still has a dream. And Susan Boyle's voice is perfect.

By way of comparison, here is the song as sung on the concert version telecast:    CLICKY.   I don't recall the singer's name. But I would say that Susan Boyle's rendition is right up there. I would like to hear her sing it without the distractions of the kind of pressure she was under and without the (understandable) reaction of the audience obscuring the nuances of her performance.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 03:49 PM

SRS if right on this one folks. We give her all the attention, she keeps coming back for more. Please join me in NOT responding.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 03:47 PM

As a fake resistance worker used to say in a trashy sit-com. I will say this only once. Once MORE, that is.

I haven't seen / heard more than three bars of this person, Ms Boyce. As far as I am concerned she is not the issue. What is is the time and bandwidth being wasted on something which by no stretch of the imagination has anything to do with the range of genres supposedly under consideration in this place.

Not one of those contributing to this thread has the slightest inkling of who I am and what I do. Suffice for me to say that I have experience of a far wider range of music that many of you will have even heard of. However, in this forum I stick (mostly) to topic. The thread is turning into one about me because you are making it so. Bereft of the intellect to make a musical assessment, the pack mentality sets in. Again. You feel personally attacked just because I have no interest in areas which are irrelevant to the subject matter anyway. So you attack me. Personally and mindlessly. You don't get it, do you? I don't care if you choose to waste your time on inferior musics which have no relevance to trad and roots. But I think you should keep it out of here. Which is where I'm going, though obviously in a different direction. As I said earlier. Things to do and play . . .

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Alice
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 03:44 PM

Back to the topic....
My heart is warmed by Susan Boyle (like this thread title says) and I'm very happy she took the chance to give the audition a try.

Image and age related prejudice is an every day happening, and Susan Boyle has brought this to light worldwide in a very emotional way.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Big Mick
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 03:42 PM

Diane .... If you want to discuss folkworks, go start a damned thread and talk about it. But take your royal ass out of this one and leave the rest of us simple bastards to our simple pleasures. Despite your prodigious knowledge, quite often you are just a friggin boor. Now is one of those times.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Bill D
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 03:34 PM

That can't be Diane again...she is "Outta here anyway".

Her time is too valuable to waste on debates about tired old wannabes.

Oh, but spelling her NAME correctly...that is a subject for endless diatribes!

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: frogprince
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 03:29 PM

...and I would love to hear Ms. Boyle sing a traditional ballad. Perhaps it wouldn't work for her, but to judge by her rendition of "CMAR", I would be very optimistic.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 03:27 PM

Olesko Person:

We

You become royal?

Firstly, you too haven't the wit to spell my name.

Secondly, you have not had my opinon on this Scottish reality show contestant because I have not listened to the streaming and thus do not have one. I do not listen to wannabes warbling tired old shit from musicals.

Instead, I told a mildly scurrilous story against Cameron Mackintosh's accountant.

What I did do, additionally, is express shocked amazement that people who supposedly have an interest in trad and roots music are squandering their time over this non-event. There may be an implied criticism of your viewing habits, and you might be right.

But what interests me right now is said Folkworks event. You, on the other hand, are free to wallow in whatever dumbed down crap from the telly you like. Just don't impose it on anyone else, especially not me. It is a far from univerally-approved taste.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: frogprince
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 03:20 PM

I once worked for 6 years for a guy who had no tolerance for any music except opera. He was an uncouth, racist lout whose idea of humor was to recite an old poem called "The shithouse poet" over and over. But he considered himself qualified to judge what music was fit for anyone to listen to. His son, a much heathier person, put on a weekday broadcast of the WFMT Midnight Special one day (in 1982). Tom Paxton's "Rambling Boy" came on. The father proclaimed, "That junk won't last two years." I didn't waste the breath to argue.

I am not implying any similarity to any person here, apart from his ability to determine what music is worth listening to.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Alice
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 03:19 PM

From the article in The Daily Record, which posted the "Cry Me A River" track....

"Susan suffered a mild form of brain damage at birth and she admitted to Sawyer that she was bullied when she was younger. "They did a bit," she said, "but they always do that with someone who is quiet and I tended to be quiet at school.

"Well, they have turned around. They are nice to me now, so we will move on from there."

snip

And when Sawyer asked what she would say to her late parents if she could, she replied: "I would like to say thank you for supporting me over the years, thank you for looking after me and I hope I can make you proud."

Sawyer replied: "I certainly think you have done that. We cannot wait to see you over in the US."

link to the full article CLICK

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 03:12 PM

Diane Easby is trolling, and has now successfully changed the subject of the thread from the wonderful discovery of the previously unknown but talented Susan Boyle over to herself.

Ms. Easby's attitudes toward popular culture don't allow for any cross-over from mainstream programming into her rarefied intellectual world.

Many of us don't normally watch this stuff. That doesn't mean if we admit to enjoying this segment, we're doomed to moribund stupidity. Back in college I spent summers working in the Forest Service, where some of the locals knew how to cut young whippersnappers down to size if we got too pompous perched on our textbook platforms. They dubbed us "pseudo-intellectuals." Point taken!

Capiche?

SRS

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 02:56 PM

"I have no opinion but that it's wholly irrelevant."

We agree Dianne, your opinion on this is wholly irrelevant.

It is a shame that some people choose to look down their nose at the gifts of others because they walk through life with blinders on. We are all entitled to opinions of course, but opinions are usually based on sound reasoning. With statements like those posted above, we see the true colors and realize that critique and opinion pulled out of ones ass are separate skills.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Alice
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 02:38 PM

Interesting history on Cry Me A River, from Wikipedia:

"A jazzy blues ballad, "Cry Me a River" was originally written for Ella Fitzgerald to sing in the 1920s-set film, Pete Kelly's Blues (released 1955). But the record producer insisted Hamilton remove the word "plebeian" since "audiences wouldn't accept a black woman in the '20s using that word."[citation needed]. Hamilton tried but eventually refused to make the change, and the song was dropped. Fitzgerald first released a recording of the song on Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie! in 1961."

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 02:38 PM

I would assume that "other Mudcatters" (should thay actually wish to classify themselves into an amorphous mass) would, universally, consider trad and roots music to be important and MOR, wishy-washy, OTT trash from musicals on a really, really stupid TV reality show to be very much less so.

Surely this is the case? Outta here anyway. Before you get onto the Lloyd sodding Webbers.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Alice
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 02:34 PM

....and if you think her singing is off topic for this forum, just focus on the Cry Me A River performance (I posted the link twice in this thread) and realize Mudcat was started as a BLUES and Folk forum. Cry Me A River was written for Ella Fitzgerald for the movie "Pete Kelly's Blues".

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Alice
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 02:30 PM

Gee, Diane, I guess you think only what is important to YOU should be important to the rest of the world or other Mudcatters.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 02:24 PM

I don't give a "stamp of approval" nor even a flying fuck about this heap of MOR schlock (as Mr Campin so accurately described it). I wouldn't waste my time or offend my ears. I heard barely three bars. I have no opinion but that it's wholly irrelevant.

The point is, I have absolutely no idea why it is even mentioned in a forum such as this when there is so much of far greater importance to be discussed. Like the upcoming Folkworks weekend.

And. uncouth, ratbag of a toadperson, if you can't be arsed to spell my name correctly, don't mention me at all.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Stringsinger
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 02:21 PM

It's what i've been saying for some time. A musical career that's successful is determined by
how a performer . People see something odd or unusual in a performer and often
are dismissive. It's in the culture. There are those odd looking types that reflect a style of performance that's acceptable because they . (Leon Redbone comes to mind.) Often, not in Redbone's case, their appearances give an effect regardless of their musicality. The visual often gets a priority.

A similar situation occurred recently when a very small man (a midget by some standards)
possessed a marvelous baritone voice and has become well-known over the world at least in musician circles if not to the general public.

This principle even carries over into the traditional folk music world. As much as many folkies would like to be immune from this superficial visual evaluation of a performer,
they are often sucked in to like performers who fit a folk stereotype without evaluating
the musical output.

It's a lesson in suspending judgement until the talent is assessed.